Laxmi Tripathi: 'Bollywood mocks transexuals'

The transgender activist and Mumbai socialite made the announcement at the music launch of her film Queens! The Destiny Of Dance.

Tripathi told Hindustan Times: "I was approached for the movie in 2000. But work only began two years ago. Many incidents in the film have been inspired by real life stories.

"Hijras have been stereotyped and mocked in Bollywood. There is more to us than clapping hands and loud make-up. This movie will portray the real struggles we go through."

The TEDx Mumbai speaker is known to be a close friend of actors Celina Jaitley and Salman Khan.

The 31-year-old said that the aim of the film is to bring more empathy and tolerance towards the transgendered community.

"Transsexuals are looked down upon by the society, so their parents are also forced to discriminate openly," said the actor. "They have no choice but to work as bar dancers and prostitutes due to the unavailability of other work."